Ortho-K (or unhyphenated OrthoK as you will also see it spelled) is shorthand for orthokeratology - the science of changing the curvature of the cornea. OrthoK is a vision correction therapy that is used to gently reshape the curvature of the eye to improve vision. Patients who want to improve their eyesight and who are found to be good candidates for the OrthoK vision improvement procedure are fitted with specially designed contact lenses that are worn at night while they sleep. You can think of orthokeratology like orthodontics. It's like wearing braces. Braces for the eyes. But very gentle braces in the form of specially designed lenses. Just as an orthodontist adjusts braces to straighten teeth, your orthokeratologist will use custom fabricated permeable contact lenses to reshape your eyes until they have reached an optimum vision correction shape.
OrthoK means better vision. Better vision overnight. It is ideal for active people who want freedom from wearing glasses or daytime contact lenses - without undergoing surgery. It is also ideal for children with myopia (nearsightedness), as you will read about further down the page.
Orthokeratology goes by many names (which can sometimes be confusing). Here are some of the most common: Ortho-K, OrthoK, Ortho K, Corneal Refractive Therapy, CRT, Vision Shaping Treatment, VST, Gentle Shaping System, The Gentle Vision Shaping System, Corneal Molding, Wave Front Corneal Molding and Gentle Molding.
In addition, the OrthoK treatment devices that are used to correct vision for eyesight improvement also come in a variety of names which can also be confusing but which effectively are all referring to the same thing. They are: Retainer Lenses, Vision Retainers, Retainers, OrthoK Lenses, Corneal Molds, Molds, Wave Lenses, and CRT Lenses.
OrthoK is extremely well tested. Over the past 40 years it has been tested worldwide on hundreds of thousands of patients in every age group. Numerous studies have been conducted evaluating all aspects of the procedure. With the advent of space age polymers, breakthroughs in new high oxygen-transmitting gas permeable lenses that permit overnight wear, modern computer-assisted lathe technology enabling high-accuracy lens fabrication and advances in topographical cornea mapping, this procedure has now become more widely available to patients seeking vision improvement.
Dr. Anderson has been distinguished by being named the first Fellow of the Orthokeratology Academy of America (FOAA) in the Ventura County - Santa Barbara County region. FOAA designations require rigorous certification. Less than one percent of U.S. optometrists have achieved Fellowship in the Academy.
The success rate is very high. 92% of Dr. Anderson's recent patients (1 year) have 20/20 vision after going through the OrthoK procedure. Results, however, depend on your original prescription, treatment goals and how your individual eyes respond. A comprehensive exam conducted by Dr. Anderson will provide a better idea of your probability of success.
Yes. Children are especially good candidates because not only does it free them from glasses or contacts for their active lifestyles in youth sports and other recreational activities, it actually slows down or stops them from getting more nearsighted every year. Studies have shown that OrthoK vision improvement lenses can control myopia and keep children's nearsightedness from getting worse. One of the great benefits of treating nearsighted children and teens is not only that the progression of nearsightedness is usually stopped but also that the prescription is reduced down to not needing any sort of correction whatsoever during waking hours.
Yes. You won't have to continue paying for progressively stronger lenses as your child's nearsightedness gets worse each year. One of the most exciting research findings within the last three years is that OrthoK slows down or in most situations actually stops the progression of nearsightedness, unlike glasses or contact lenses. OrthoK is ideal for treating child myopia. Instead of being told that your child is more nearsighted each year and needs stronger lenses, the usual outcome to OrthoK wear is "You are doing fine. No changes. Continue wearing your lenses each night." That's a wonderful change from what doctors have been able to say in the past.
No surgery is involved in OrthoK. Where OrthoK is fully reversible, Lasik is not. Lasik is permanent surgery. It involves tissue removal with risks of scarring of the cornea. OrthoK, on the other hand, involves gentle vision shaping using special contact lenses with little risk of scarring. The full risks of Lasik are not known. Decades after the introduction of Lasik, medical researchers are reporting an increase in corneal bulging (ectasias). In April 2008 FDA launched public hearings on Lasik risks. An FDA advisory panel has recommended ways to make warnings of the risks of Lasik clearer to patients.
How do Lasik risks compare to contact lens risks? A study published by the School of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of New South Wales, Australia found that while there are some 700 cases of vision loss reported per 100,000 refractive surgeries such as Lasik, only 50 out of 100,000 contact lens wearers suffer from contact lens-related corneal infections every year and only six (6) out of 100,000 contact lens wearers suffer some form of vision loss each year.
OrthoK costs generally range from $1500 to $2500 - about half the cost of Lasik as shown in the chart below.
COST COMPARISON CHART |
|
ORTHOK |
LASIK |
ORTHOK COST ADVANTAGE |
High |
$2,500 |
$6,000 |
-58% |
Medium |
$2,000 |
$4,000 |
-50% |
Low |
$1,500 |
$3,000 |
-50% |
|
Cost figures are for both eyes. Sources: Business Week, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and NPR
|
back to the top
Very safe. Compared to conventional daily wear contact lenses which are worn 12-16 hours per day or extended wear contacts which are worn 24 hours per day, OrthoK lenses are worn only at night (8 hours). This is not to say that conventional or OrthoK contact lenses are without risk. The greatest risk is infection, which, is comparatively rare and is usually prevented by adhering to lens care instructions. One of the great advantages of OrthoK is that it is fully reversible. You can simply stop wearing the lenses if you choose to.
Unlike a standard contact lens, the central portion of the OrthoK contact lens fits closer to the eye where it exerts a gentle pressure on the cornea of the eye to reshape it to improve a patient's vision. In addition, sophisticated design technology is used to measure thousands of points and customize the OrthoK lens to fit the unique shape of each patient's eyes.
No. OrthoK does not hurt. OrthoK vision improvement patients wear the lenses while they are sleeping. Before going to sleep, patients may experience some lens sensation when their eyes are open. However, when patients close their eyes, the lenses feel great.
A free consultation with Dr. Anderson will answer this question most definitively and determine whether OrthoK vision improvement is right for you. To find a list of typical good candidate traits that may indicate if OrthoK is right for you, visit our OrthoK Advantage page.
Not everybody can be a candidate for orthokeratology. OrthoK corrections do not work as well for those who are farsighted as they do for those who are nearsighted. People with very high levels of myopia are also more difficult to treat. People with eye inflammations or infections are not good candidates nor are those with other rare conditions which will be determined by Dr. Anderson as part of your eye examination. But if you are nearsighted or have astigmatism, the odds are in your favor. Dr. Anderson will tell you how much he can help you.
Easy. You just stop wearing your OrthoK lenses. Unlike alternatives such as Lasik eye surgery, OrthoK is fully reversible. If a patient doesn't like the outcome or decides to withdraw from the OrthoK vision improvement program, for whatever reason, their eyesight will return to where it started from before OrthoK - whether the patient was wearing glasses or contact lenses. This is one of the most exciting and compelling advantages of OrthoK compared to alternatives such as laser eye surgery.
If your distance vision is good without any contact lenses, then standard OrthoK is probably not for you. If you are over 40, however, your reading correction may be addressed with several other alternatives including Hyperopic/Presbyopic, Myopic/Presbyopic, or monovision OrthoK. With monovision OrthoK, one eye is corrected for long distance vision and the other eye is corrected for near vision. With this treatment your brain automatically chooses the appropriate eye for the task. Another alternative is to have both eyes corrected for distance vision and just wear reading glasses whenever you need to do up close work.
Yes, in fact many patients suffering from dry eye say their eyes are actually better WITH OrthoK. For those patients who have dry eyes and who are unable to wear conventional contact lenses, orthokeratology can provide excellent vision with no compromise in comfort. Patients with dry eye may need daily treatment for a while before the OrthoK lenses are fit.
If you have dry eye disease due to severe arthritis or a collagen-vascular disease, however, you may not be a good candidate for OrthoK. A comprehensive exam will provide a clearer idea of your chances for success with OrthoK.
Yes. You probably recall when you were experiencing discomfort with your contact lenses that closing your eyes relieved the discomfort. Your OrthoK lenses are worn at night while you sleep - while your eyes are closed. This effectively reduces any discomfort you may have experienced during the day while wearing contact lenses.
back to the top
Yes. You will be able to see while wearing your OrthoK retainer lenses. You will also be able to see at night while wearing them. With your OrthoK lenses, for example, you'll be able to read in bed or watch television before falling asleep. Please note, however, that your OrthoK lenses are not designed for extended open eye wear.
Yes. With better vision through OrthoK it won't be necessary for her to wear glasses during the day if she is a good candidate.
Yes. It won't be necessary for him to wear contact lenses or glasses during basketball games if Dr. Anderson determines that he is a good candidate for OrthoK eyesight improvement.
Yes, if Dr. Anderson determines that you are a good candidate.
No, that's not a problem. Usually six hours of sleep per night is enough. Great results can be achieved in as little as four hours of sleep each night. Some people prefer to sleep for short periods of time rather than sleep for one full consecutive 8-hour period. If that's your preference, just insert your OrthoK retainer lenses in when you sleep and remove them when you awaken.
After the original fitting is completed and a final lens prescription is determined, patients will be provided with a single pair of OrthoK lenses to take home which will normally last two to three years. Spare pairs are always recommended for back-up in case a patient loses the first pair. A spare OrthoK lens is available for less than 10% of the total OrthoK fee.
No. We'll show you how it's done. Seven-year old children do it routinely.
About two months. Most patients can expect to meet with Dr. Anderson a minimum of five times during this two month period according to the following schedule:
Day 1: A thorough eye examination is conducted followed by taking precision cornea topography measurements. Based on the results of the patient's eye examination and the topographic measurements of their eyes, a special OrthoK lens is engineered and customized to address the patient's unique needs. Generally, it takes about one week for the finished lenses to be processed and made ready for the patient's fitting.
Day 2: Approximately one week later. This day is used for the patient fitting and as a training session to educate the patient on how to handle, apply, wear, remove and care for the lenses. They "nap" with closed eyes in the office for two hours. The doctor then removes the lenses and examines the eye for any irritations. If there are no problems, the patient typically can go home with the lenses. Usually patients have good enough vision to drive at this point, depending on their prescription.
Day 3: One week later. The doctor inspects the eyes and the lenses to make sure all is going well.
Day 4: One month later. Ongoing monitoring of patient progress.
Day 5: Two months later. Final check. If all is well, the fitting is over.
Vision improvement starts immediately. You may notice it within a few minutes. It is very significant within two hours. Some patients see clearly in as little as one night of wearing OrthoK retainer lenses. Vision is normally good during all waking hours within the first week. In some adults with higher prescriptions, it can take two to four weeks to achieve good vision. Because children's eyes are more easily molded, vision improvement generally takes effect more rapidly than it does for adults.
For a free OrthoK vision improvement consultation, call us at (805) 484-7903, email us or fill out our online form for an appointment. If you have had a current comprehensive eye examination elsewhere, bring that information with you to your free consultation. You will need a current eye health exam and refraction which we will provide at your first appointment if necessary.
back to the top
|
